Chapter 1445: To Challenge A World

Arthur stared at his friends practicing together in the sunflower fields. Their practice was different than his — they pushed themselves to the limit, while he tried to control his limitless energy.

"I sense envy," Master Guffaw said, descending from the sky and landing atop the cottage where Arthur sat. He landed on the chimney, making him a little higher than Arthur. "Are you burdened?"

"Envy has never been a feeling of mine," Arthur said. "Maybe when I had nothing, it was all I felt — but now, it's a matter of knowing what I should do."

"Responsibility and freedom cannot be more different," Master Guffaw said while looking at the three create whirlwinds of flowers. "Your friends are only worried about shaping their own destiny, while you are here, contemplating a destiny that has already been written for you."

"I accepted who I am," Arthur said. "I am Arthur Netherborne, the man who will bring down the kingdom of gods."

"And that you are," Guffaw said. "But you have a lot more soul-searching to do before you can tame that wild energy of yours."

"I just need time."

"We all do," he answered. "In fact, there are very few places in this world that allow you to overcome the difference in time between us and Devaheim."

"…the trial," Arthur said. "How is this related to it?"

"It seems you don't understand," Master Guffaw jumped to land next to him. Arthur turned to look into his emerald eyes. "The trial was always a part of the Sovereign Path. Your insignia, the Breaker, is still within you — awaiting to resurface."

"Do you mean… that I already passed the first trial of the Sovereign Path?"

"The trial is merely a portion of the path, enough to give whoever completes it the Legacy of Kings — a powerful authority over your world."

"The crown to control it."

"Precisely," Guffaw said. "Your world does not have a king like the Spirits Sovereign. Worlds without their Sovereign are weak and unstable, making them a target for the Nameless. The Scholar Guardian, and your former self, worked together to ensure that a king is chosen."

"No one has been chosen for the past — well, forever," Arthur said. "As far as I can tell, the trial has been a mistake leading people to their deaths."

"People will die chasing their ambitions," Guffaw sat down next to Arthur. "You and the Scholar Guardian knew that you wouldn't be here for a long time. The world cannot depend on you for its survival."

"You want me to choose a king for the world?" Arthur asked with confusion.

"It's the only way to give your world a fighting chance," Guffaw said. "For me, your world is one of many that I try to help. But for you, it has everything you've ever known — family, friends, allies, and even enemies."

Arthur was silent.

"And if I choose wrong?" Arthur asked.

"You won't, because you already learned plenty of lessons," Guffaw said while looking at Arthur. "I can see the memories you carry with you — loss, humiliation, betrayal, and anger. But above all, I see a man who knows what he wants."

Arthur did not answer.

"Tell me what you desire," Guffaw pushed.

Arthur looked at his friends, and then into the distant horizon.

"I want to challenge this entire world," he said, "into seizing its own fate. No matter how much I changed over the past two years, something remained the same — my hatred to the gods."

"Maybe that's why you were chosen as the heir of Ragnar's legacy," Master Guffaw said. "Training won't be easy, Arthur, but it will be worth every minute of it. Inside the Sovereign Path, you will have the time to grow far beyond what the gods could anticipate."

"You are saying this is a chance," Arthur said. "One I might not come back from, regardless of what destiny I have to fulfill."

"Powerful men challenged the Sovereign Path," Guffaw said. "But most perished within it, becoming the soil that feeds the Path. They were more powerful, smarter, or even luckier than you will ever be."

"What makes me believe that I would perform better than them?"

"Believing in you is not my job," Master Guffaw said as he jumped to the ground, landing like a leaf. "But I doubt you need someone to believe in you, am I right?" he asked while turning toward Arthur with a grin. "Your aura is filled with confidence, after all."

Arthur smiled back before jumping down.

The other three took notice of their arrival and came over. Once they gathered, Master Guffaw began explaining the basics of their training that would last three days and three nights.

"We cannot waste that much time," Arthur said with a frown. "There are people waiting for us, trapped inside Invidia's stolen realm."

"You don't have a choice," Guffaw answered. "My wisdom is not a trick that lets you grow stronger in a night. But I understand your urgency, and let me assure you that your friends are fine — for now."

"How do you know?" Arthur asked.

"Halstren has already met them and formed a formidable force against the abyss and Invidia," Master Guffaw said. "He will work to delay the inevitable fight that will decide the fate of the Spirits Realm."

"You know the lord of the first layer too?" Ali asked with suspicion. "I think we have forgotten to ask the most important question: who are you? How do you know so many things about us and this world?"

Master Guffaw was silent, and then smiled.

"I know these things because I once ruled the Skyey Layer, before retiring and creating my own realm here," Master Guffaw said. "I invited you here because someone asked me to help his old friend learn the basics."

"An old friend…" Arthur muttered. "You mean the Spirits Sovereign."

Master Guffaw nodded.

"My job here is to help you take the first step, but what you do after that is entirely your call," Master Guffaw said. "Whether you want to become a god, kill one, or turn into a demon of hell — I don't care."

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